Jaffer suggests the Indians replace their fourth pacer-cum-all-rounder with Kuldeep Yadav, a specialist spinner. Yadav hasn’t played a game on the tour yet, but many fans and experts want him in the Playing XI given his form. Except for replacing the injured Rishabh Pant with his like-for-like Dhruv Jurel, Jaffer hasn’t made any major batting unit alterations.
India is 1-2 behind in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 with one game left and out of contention to win. The best India can do is end the visit on level terms with England. Injuries plague India ahead of the fifth and final Test in London on July 31. Former cricketer Wasim Jaffer has named his ideal playing XI.
Jaffer doesn’t care about India’s batting.
In four games, KL Rahul has scored two hundreds and two half-centuries, making him the series’ second-highest run-getter. Jaffer trusts Sai Sudharsan, India’s top first-innings run-scorer in Manchester, at No. 3. Next is India captain Shubman Gill, who has scored a record 722 runs.
Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, the Old Trafford stars, will bat and spin alongside Kuldeep Yadav.
Since India will miss Jasprit Bumrah, the pace battery is most exciting. The former cricketer has chosen Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh to replace the ace pacer.
My India XI for Oval Test:
1. Yashasvi
2. KL
3. Sai
4. Shubman (c)
5. Jurel (wk)
6. Jadeja
7. Washington
8. Kuldeep
9. Siraj
10. Arshdeep
11. AkashdeepWhat’s yours? #ENGvIND
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 30, 2025
India’s 5th Test XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh.
India
